Events Jan-Feb 2026

Looking to fill your social calendar? We've got the rundown on what to do this season.

MUSIC + SHOWS

Cameron Arts Museum (CAM)
cameronartmuseum.org

Mary’s Art Explorers: Wonder Walkers
Jan 8

Jazz at CAM: The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble
Jan 8

Kids at CAM: New Year’s Calligraphy with Kana Sahashi
Jan 10

Floating Lantern Ceremony
Jan 11

Living Waters: Artist Tour & Talk with R. Stein Wexler
Jan 18

Jazz at CAM: Keith Davis Trio
Feb 12

Thalian Hall
Thalianhall.org

Rock of Ages
Jan 2-11

Blue Velvet (1986)
Jan 16

Eraserhead (1977)
Jan 16-17

Purlie Victorious
Jan 16-18

Beanstalk
Jan 24

Three American Troubadours
Jan 30

The Scottsboro Boys
Feb 5-15

Murder on the Orient Express
Feb 6-15

Cordâme – Fabula Femina
Feb 12

To Kill a Mockingbird
Feb 19

True Confessions of a Failed Debutante
Feb 27-March 8

The Wilson Center at CFCC
Wilsoncentertickets.com

Young People’s Concert
Jan 18

All Mozart
Jan 22

Trace Crowder
Jan 24

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Feb 4

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
Feb 7

David Foster & Katharine McPhee
Feb 11

An Evening with Sutton Foster
Feb 13

Trey Kennedy
Feb 14

Drum Tao
Feb 15

CHICAGO: The Musical
Feb 17-18

Brooklyn Arts Center
Brooklynartsnc.com

Does Entertainment Presents: Tom Hamilton
Jan 22

Does Entertainment Presents: Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke
Jan 30

REGULAR EVENTS

Wilmington Farmers Market at Tidal Creek
Saturdays through Aug. 29, 2026 — Tidal Creek Co-op Market
Browse fresh produce, farm-raised meats, shellfish, honey, flowers and handmade goods at this producer-only market held year-round on the Tidal Creek green. Shoppers will find an alternative grocery experience focused on integrity, local products and seasonal offerings. Chef demonstrations and live music occur on select dates.

Benny Hill Jazz Brunch
Sundays through Feb. 22, 2026 — True Blue Butcher & Table
Savor Sunday brunch with live jazz by Wilmington saxophonist Benny Hill. Chef Bobby Zimmerman’s menu blends global flavors with modern American dishes, local ingredients and craft cocktails, creating a refined and lively weekend dining experience.

Plunging Into the New Year
Jan. 1
Oceanic Restaurant andCrystal Pier
Kick off the new year with a refreshing Atlantic Ocean plunge from Wrightsville Beach access points 36 and 37. Spectators can enjoy the view from the sand or Crystal Pier, and participants may join a post-plunge celebration at Oceanic Restaurant. Two plunge times are offered.

A250th: Colonial NC Virtual Tours
Dec. 11 – Feb. 28, 2026
Burgwin-Wright Museum
Explore free virtual resources highlighting Colonial life in Wilmington as North Carolina prepares for the 2026 Festival of Freedom. The Burgwin-Wright Museum offers paid house tours, but its gardens and virtual visits are free. Additional resources include America 250 NC materials and the NC Museum of History’s interactive online tour.

Bathing Suit Exhibit
Jan. 2 – Aug. 31, 2026 — Fort Fisher
Step into a century of coastal style at Fort Fisher’s 100 Summers of Style exhibit, featuring historic bathing suits and vintage ads from Elaine Henson’s collection. The display traces fashion trends from bloomers to bikinis and explores how world events shaped swimwear over the decades.

Carolina Beach State Park Half Marathon & 5K Run
Jan. 3 — Carolina Beach State Park
Welcome the new year with a scenic trail race through pine forest and along water views. Runners of all levels can tackle the 13.1- or 3.1-mile courses, both offering varied terrain and unique prizes. A drone video and course maps are available on the event website

Enchanting Secret Wine Garden
Jan. 8–11 and Feb. 12–15 — Perennial Harbor
Stroll into a hidden garden retreat in the Soda Pop District for a weekend of wine, food trucks, workshops and live entertainment. This thoughtfully designed native-plant space offers ample seating, a relaxed backyard atmosphere and rotating activities that make each monthly opening feel fresh and festive.

Beginner Blacksmith’s Knife Class
Select Dates — Poplar Grove Plantation
Learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing during a five-hour class held in Poplar Grove’s 19th-century smithy. Participants use a traditional coal forge to shape raw metal into a hand-forged knife while practicing essential techniques. No experience is required, and each student leaves with a finished blade.

MLK Fun Day
Jan. 17 — MLK Center
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a free family event featuring games, activities, bounce houses and refreshments. The gathering offers a joyful and community-centered way to honor King’s vision of equality, justice and nonviolent leadership.

Beginner Blacksmithing
Jan. 10 — Poplar Grove Plantation
Explore traditional metalworking in this four-hour introductory class led in Poplar Grove’s historic smithy. Students learn to use a coal forge and choose one project—such as a fire poker, candle holder, S-hook or dinner bell—to craft and take home. Designed for beginners eager to create with their hands.

Fourth Friday Gallery Nights
Jan. 22 and Feb. 26 — Wilmington
Celebrate Wilmington’s arts community during monthly after-hours gallery nights featuring special exhibitions in a variety of mediums, from oil painting and ceramics to metalwork and watercolor. Visitors can meet artists, explore new work and follow a self-guided tour. Maps are available at participating galleries.

Robert Burns Scottish Supper
Jan. 24 — Hotel Ballast, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Honor Scotland’s national poet at the Scottish Society of Wilmington’s 33rd annual Burns Supper. The evening features traditional fare, toasts, the ceremonial Address to the Haggis and music by Port City Pipes and Drums. Guests may dress in Scottish attire but it is not required.

Johnnie Mercers Pier Dogfish Classic
Feb. 1 — Johnnie Mercers Pier
Anglers of all ages return annually for this catch-and-release dogfish tournament, offering cash awards for the three largest fish and additional raffle prizes. All entries must be released alive to qualify. The evening concludes with an awards gathering inside the pier house.

Fisk Jubilee Singers in Concert
Feb. 20 — UNCW Kenan Auditorium 
Experience the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers as they perform powerful Negro spirituals preserved over more than 150 years. The ensemble, founded at Fisk University in 1866, continues to share its historic artistry worldwide. Early ticket purchases are recommended.

The Sixties Show
Feb. 26 — UNCW Kenan Auditorium
Travel back in time with The Sixties Show, a fully live concert infused with immersive visuals and film from the decade. The touring production recreates the sights and sounds that defined the era. This popular, cross-generational show is expected to sell out.

A250th: A Weekend With Diana Gabaldon
Feb. 27 — Moores Creek National Battlefield
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a special weekend featuring bestselling author Diana Gabaldon. Programming includes an evening conversation, a backstage meet-and-greet, and a guided tour of Moores Creek National Battlefield led by a park ranger and Gabaldon, followed by a book signing. Ticket options vary.

A250th: Moores Creek Black River Paddle
Feb. 28 — Moores Creek National Battlefield
Paddle the storied Black River on a guided trip that follows the historic waters surrounding the Battle of Moores Creek. Led by Cape Fear River Watch experts, participants launch from the park and explore the creek’s dark, reflective waterways before returning upstream. Kayaks may be brought or rented.